What a weird one for me.

I'd been told by a couple of different writer friends that this book was phenomenal, and that I had to read it. So, after a bit of this, I ultimately caved and picked it up.

And, if I'm honest, I was immediately underwhelmed by the narrative voice. Not because it was bad, it absolutely wasn't. I guess I'd just anticipated a much different voice, and this one was kind of dopey, kind of irreverent. And yet, it also suited the book, so after a while, while it never fit comfortably, I was at least able to slip into it.

But there were other choices the author made—primarily around things like Hub, the dog, talking very much like Westlake himself—that just rubbed me the wrong way.

And the whole Dr. Quietus thing? It was just fucking silly to me.

To be honest, I'd fully planned on panning the shit out of this book.

But then, goddamn it, along came Yvette, and the book took a corner. And then a couple of other plot points happened.

And I will fully admit, the last fifty-odd pages of this book, I was just barreling through, simultaneously not wanting it to end, and needing it to end so I'd know what the hell happened.

And then, without spoiling anything, along came the wall...or, perhaps that should be The Wall. And this author, Rio Youers, actually had me in tears. He got to me, and he got me good. The bastard.

So, I can say that this was a novel that completely confounded my expectations, it took some conventions of writing I tend to hold sacred and tossed them out the fucking window. But somehow, it all worked...and worked really well.

I guess I'm gonna be one of those people that'll tell you this book is phenomenal, and that you have to read it. ( )

I loved everything about this book. It is a beautiful accomplishment. ( )

BRILLIANT ( )

Egalley thanks to ChiZine Publications
So, I opened this book expecting a light superhero's story. Not so much.

I would never ever look at or think of people who are stuck in a permanent vegetative stage in the same way I used to look them. And that's what this powerful heart wrenching book did to me.

Westlake is a former golden boy, talented surfer and a charming person generally loved by all. He's got a girlfriend whom he loves deeply and who he thinks is his future Mrs. Soul. He's got his best friend, his cool dog Hub and his family. Until an accident on a surfing board damages his brain to the extent where he slips into a coma and becomes a vegetable.

What it would be like if your soul and brain, your subconscious could astral project all over the world, if you could feel everything and read people's thoughts but could not physically express any of yours? A permanent hell, that even Westlake's cheerfulness can't overcome.

He's been like this for two years, travelling all over the world with his mind, speaking with animals, especially with his dog and fighting Dr.Quietus which I presume is his definition of death, but now his parents decide to switch off his life support which means his feeding tube is taken out and he slowly starves to death.

It's excruciatingly painful and Westlake has only up to 2 weeks of life left to try and come back or he is going down.

I was nearly sobbing by the end, he was so beautiful, our Mr Soul! His perception of people around him, his nurses or caretakers, his grief stricken parents and their tearful goodbyes were almost too much to bear.

The end... The end leaves you on the edge of desperately trying to believe in miracles. I really don't know what happened beyond the last sentence and I'm not sure I want to know.

This is one of those books that stays with you forever. Beyond amazing. Tearful. Grand. ( )

The story is a journey through emotions and feelings. The struggle of a superhero who cannot escape his own body is compelling and a page turner. This is a tremendous book and it could not have been any better.

This is a book that will be read again and again in my household. A true modern classic and something I could not recommend enough. ( )